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Victor Sen Yung

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
149

Gender
Male

Birthday
October 18, 1915 (110 years old)

Place of Birth
San Francisco, California, USA

Victor Sen Yung

Biography

Victor Sen Young (born Victor Cheung Young or Sen Yew Cheung; October 18, 1915 – body discovered November 9, 1980) was an American character actor, best known for playing Jimmy Chan in the Charlie Chan films and Hop Sing in the Western series Bonanza. He was born in San Francisco, California to Gum Yung Sen and his first wife, both immigrants from China.

His mother died during the flu epidemic of 1919. His father placed Victor and his younger sister, Rosemary, in a children's shelter, and returned to his homeland to seek another wife. He returned in 1922 with his new wife, Lovi Shee, forming a household with his two children.

Sen Yung made his first significant acting debut in the 1938 film Charlie Chan in Honolulu, as the Chinese detective's "number two son", Jimmy Chan. Sen Yung played Jimmy Chan in 11 Charlie Chan films between 1938 and 1942. Moonlighting from the popular Chan series, Sen Yung won critical acclaim playing the nuanced role of Ong Chi Seng, a young attorney assisting Howard Joyce, in defending Leslie Crosbie, in The Letter. Like other Chinese-American actors, he was cast in Japanese parts during World War II, like his role as the treacherous Japanese-American Joe Totsuiko in the 1942 Humphrey Bogart film Across the Pacific.

During World War II he joined the U.S. Army Air Forces just as his erstwhile co-star Sidney Toler was set to revive the dormant Charlie Chan series at Monogram Pictures. Sen Yung's military obligations forced him to decline rejoining the series immediately, but Monogram gave him a standing invitation to work there after his tour of duty. Sen Yung's military service included work in training films at the First Motion Picture Unit and a role in the Army Air Forces' play and film Winged Victory.

In 1946 Sen Yung resumed his Hollywood career at Monogram, now billed as Victor Sen Young, and reunited with Sidney Toler. Toler's health was failing; Monogram was conserving Toler's waning energy, limiting his scenes and giving him long rest periods during filming. To relieve the burden on Toler, Monogram entrusted much of the action to Victor Sen Young; he and either Mantan Moreland or Willie Best shared much of the footage in Toler's final three films, Dangerous Money, Shadows Over Chinatown, and The Trap. The addition of Moreland as Chan's black chauffeur, Birmingham Brown, reflected the fact that by this time the Chan pictures had a significant following among black Americans, who liked a film series that for once did not feature a white hero. Moreland's popularity in the Chan pictures was so great that he was booked for a nationwide vaudeville tour.

Following Toler's death in 1947, Victor Sen Young appeared in five of the remaining six Charlie Chan features. His character "Jimmy" was renamed "Tommy".

Victor Sen Young continued to work in motion pictures and television in roles ranging from featured players (affable or earnest Asian characters) to bit roles (clerks, houseboys, waiters, etc.).

Arguably even more than for his work in the Charlie Chan films, Victor Sen Yung is remembered as "Hop Sing," the irascible cook and general factotum on the iconic television series Bonanza, appearing in 107 episodes between 1959 and 1973.

Sen Yung was also an accomplished and talented chef. He frequently appeared on cooking programs and authored The Great Wok Cookbook in 1974.

Known For

Acting

1980The Man with Bogart's Faceas Mr. Wing
1977How the West Was Wonas Hospital Attendant
1975The Killer Eliteas Wei Chi
1975Barbary Coastas Soong
1975Isisas Mr. Chen
1974Police Womanas Ah Choy
1973The Red Ponyas Mr. Sing / Carni man / Mr. Green
1972Kung Fuas Chu
1972Kung Fuas Farmer
1972Kung Fuas Master Ling (uncredited)
1972Kung Fuas Old Mandarin
1972The Paul Lynde Showas
1972Kung Fu: The Way of the Tiger, the Sign of the Dragonas Chuen
1970Night Galleryas Joseph the Butler
1970The Hawaiiansas Chun Fat (uncredited)
1968A Flea in Her Earas Oke Saki
1968Here's Lucyas Headwaiter
1968Here's Lucyas Murphy
1968Hawaii Five-Oas Dr. Leo Kuh
1968The Movie Orgyas Self (archive footage)
1965The F.B.I.as Joseph Sakanishi
1965The F.B.I.as Mayor Eto
1965The F.B.I.as Mr. Kwong
1965Get Smartas Abe Fu Yung
1965Get Smartas Yamasaki
1965The Wild Wild Westas Baron Kyosai
1964Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.as
1964The Man from U.N.C.L.E.as Servant
1964Mickeyas
1962Confessions of an Opium Eateras Wing Young
1961The Mike Douglas Showas Self
1961Flower Drum Songas Frankie Wing
196187th Precinctas Charlie, 1st Tattoo Parlor Owner
1961Dragon by the Tailas Dr. Wing Chin-Ni
1961Mister Edas
1960The Barbara Stanwyck Showas Dr. Wing Chin-Ni
1960Thrilleras Bartender
1960Hong Kongas Yang
1959Hawaiian Eyeas
1959Hawaiian Eyeas Al
1959Hawaiian Eyeas Sam
1959Bonanzaas Hop Sing
1958Yancy Derringeras Hon Lee
1958The Riflemanas
1958The Saga of Hemp Brownas Chang
1958The Huntersas Korean farmer
1958Jet Attackas Capt. Chon
1958She Demonsas Sammy Ching
1957Perry Masonas Mickey Fong
1957Perry Masonas Sheng
1957Richard Diamond, Private Detectiveas Magan
1957Men in Waras North Korean Sniper Prisoner
1956Accused of Murderas Hank - Bayliss' Houseboy (uncredited)
1956The Family Nobody Wantedas
1956Flight to Hong Kongas Airline Ticket Clerk (uncredited)
1956Broken Arrowas Ling Tang
1956Dr. Fu Manchuas Broadcaster (uncredited)
1956The Rawhide Yearsas Chang - Steward (uncredited)
1955Blood Alleyas Cpl. Wang
1955Navy Logas
1955The Left Hand of Godas John Wong
1955Soldier of Fortuneas Goldie - Hotel Waiter (uncredited)
1955Jump Into Hellas Lt. Thatch
1954Port of Hellas Detonation Ship Radioman
1954Captain Midnightas
1954The Shanghai Storyas Sun Lee
1954Jubilee Trailas Mickey - Chinese Man (uncredited)
1954The Lone Wolfas Jack Wong
1954Trader Tom of the China Seasas Wang
1953Forbiddenas Allan Chung
1953The Blue Gardeniaas Blue Gardenia Waiter (uncredited)
1953Target Hong Kongas Johnny Wing (uncredited)
1952Terry and the Piratesas
1952Adventures of Supermanas Harry Wong
1952Cripple Creekas Postal Clerk (uncredited)
1952The Sniperas Tom
1952Hong Kongas Mr. Howe (uncredited)
1952China Smithas
1952China Smithas George Loo
1951Valley of Fireas Ching Moon
1951Peking Expressas Chinese Captain (uncredited)
1951The Law and the Ladyas Chinese Manager (uncredited)
1951Secrets of Monte Carloas Chinese Clerk (uncredited)
1951The Groom Wore Spursas Ignacio
1951Grounds for Marriageas Oscar, Chris' Valet
1950Woman on the Runas Sammy Chung
1950The Jack Benny Programas Chinese Cafeteria Employee
1950The Breaking Pointas Mr. Sing
1950A Ticket to Tomahawkas Long Time
1950Key to the Cityas MC at the Blue Duck (uncredited)
1949And Baby Makes Threeas Lem Kee
1949Chinatown at Midnightas Hotel Proprietor
1949Oh, You Beautiful Dollas Houseboy
1949Red Lightas Vincent (uncredited)
1949The Sickle or the Crossas Major
1949Tuna Clipperas Oriental Dock Worker
1949Boston Blackie's Chinese Ventureas
1949State Department: File 649as Johnny Han
1948Rogues' Regimentas Rickshaw Boy (uncredited)
1948The Feathered Serpentas Tommy Chan
1948The Golden Eyeas Tommy Chan (as Victor Sen Young)
1948The Shanghai Chestas Tommy Chan
1948Docks of New Orleansas Tommy Chan
1948Half Past Midnightas Sam
1948To the Ends of the Earthas Chinese Pilot (uncredited)
1947Intrigueas Western Union Clerk (uncredited)
1947The Chinese Ringas Tommy Chan
1947The Flameas Chang
1947The Crimson Keyas Wing - Houseboy
1947Web of Dangeras Sam
1946The Trapas Jimmy Chan
1946Dangerous Millionsas Lin Chow
1946Dangerous Moneyas Jimmy Chan
1946G.I. War Bridesas Waiter (uncredited)
1946Shadows Over Chinatownas Jimmy Chan
1945Betrayal from the Eastas Omaya
1944Winged Victoryas Lee (uncredited)
1943Lost Angelas Chinese Man (uncredited)
1943Night Plane from Chungkingas Captain Po
1943Chinaas Lin Wei
1942Manila Callingas Armando
1942Across the Pacificas Joe Totsuiko
1942Little Tokyo, U.S.A.as
1942Moontideas Jimmy Takeo
1942The Mad Martindalesas Jefferson Gow
1942Secret Agent of Japanas Fu Yen
1942Castle in the Desertas Jimmy Chan
1942A Yank on the Burma Roadas Wing
1941Charlie Chan in Rioas Jimmy Chan
1941They Met in Bombayas Gin Ling (uncredited)
1941Dead Men Tellas Jimmy Chan
1940Murder Over New Yorkas Jimmy Chan
1940The Letteras Ong Chi Seng
1940Charlie Chan at the Wax Museumas Jimmy Chan
1940Charlie Chan's Murder Cruiseas Jimmy Chan
1940Charlie Chan in Panamaas Jimmy Chan
1939Escape to Paradiseas
1939Barricadeas Undetermined Role
193920,000 Men a Yearas Harold Chong
1939Charlie Chan at Treasure Islandas Jimmy Chan
1939Charlie Chan in Renoas Jimmy Chan
1939Torchy Blane in Chinatownas Chinese Entertainer with Sword
1938Charlie Chan in Honoluluas James Chan
1938Shadows Over Shanghaias Wang
1938Mr. Moto Takes a Chanceas Soldier
1938International Settlementas Bellboy / Onlooker in Street
1937Thank You, Mr. Motoas Onlooker with Street Acrobats / Elevator Operator (uncredited)
1937Double or Nothingas Minor Role (uncredited)
1937The Good Earthas Peasant (uncredited)

Production